Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Washtub Cello
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
Avatar
The Modesto Kid
South Orange, NJ
Members
December 26, 2018 - 11:55 am
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 41
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

44523902395_70983e6747_b.jpgImage Enlarger

I spent the last half of the year designing and making a cello with a steel washtub for its body. I carved the neck and scroll from hard maple; the fingerboard (boxwood) was taken from an old broken cello, as was the soundpost; the strings and components such as pegs, tailpiece, bridge are standard cello components mostly bought from my local violin shop or online.

I kept pretty extensive notes and pictures at my blog -- http://readin.com/blog/?projec.....o&o=a will take you to the first page, and there are links at the bottom of each page for "More posts". Check it out! I'm happy to answer any questions about the washtub cello.

Avatar
Shane "Chicken" Wang

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
December 27, 2018 - 11:52 am
Member Since: October 25, 2018
Forum Posts: 298
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Welcome to the forum. Are you sure you're not from East Tennessee? That would big a mega hit over there. Absolutely love it! Great job.

Avatar
The Modesto Kid
South Orange, NJ
Members
December 27, 2018 - 12:33 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 41
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks! Nope, I'm from NJ and before that, Modesto, California. I do play the "East Tennessee Blues" though... :)

Avatar
Irv
Members

Regulars
December 27, 2018 - 2:38 pm
Member Since: December 23, 2017
Forum Posts: 1650
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hello @@The Modesto Kid.  I would appreciate a photo of the back side of your cello.  I assume there is some sort of “dowel stick” (to use a banjo term) from the neck heel to the end peg to absorb the load imposed by string tension.  In your blog, you reference the use of a sound post.  What takes the load from the bass side of bridge?  If the round wash pail shape was not used to take load (if a dowel stick was used), could an oval pail be substituted for more ergonomic use?

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

Avatar
The Modesto Kid
South Orange, NJ
Members
December 27, 2018 - 2:55 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 41
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hi Irv, yes I use a dowel run through the body of the wash tub. Here is a picture of the inside of the tub (there is a plywood back which is not attached here) -- 44552024041_3b1fa4f24a.jpgImage Enlarger

The soundpost runs from the bass foot of the bridge to the dowel surface, it does not go all the way to the back of the cello.

I think an oval tub would work fine.

Avatar
Irv
Members

Regulars
December 27, 2018 - 3:08 pm
Member Since: December 23, 2017
Forum Posts: 1650
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Continuing with the banjo comparison, does an air space exist between the plywood back and the tub sides (like a banjo resonator)?  If so, of what use are the rib “f holes?”

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

Avatar
The Modesto Kid
South Orange, NJ
Members
December 27, 2018 - 3:17 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 41
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

There is no air space around the plywood back. I'm not sure if the "f hole" is actually necessary, I just thought it would look cool :). I was originally going to leave the back open, but the sound is better with the back on it.

Avatar
Irv
Members

Regulars
December 27, 2018 - 3:34 pm
Member Since: December 23, 2017
Forum Posts: 1650
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

The possibilities here are endless.  I just saw a 42 inch oval with relatively shallow sides  (say, a 3/4 double bass) and a smaller oval made out of copper (a real looker but a little heavy at eight pounds).

Makes me want to bow on a steel hand saw as an accompaniment.

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

Avatar
Irv
Members

Regulars
December 27, 2018 - 3:49 pm
Member Since: December 23, 2017
Forum Posts: 1650
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

33D75654-43E3-4D8E-A8CC-2CCA5F933B65.jpegPicture this (42” x 24” oval) with two front mounted guitar type metal resonators as a string bass.  Every blue grass band in the country would want one.  And with the use of a dowel, it would be possible to disconnect the neck for travel.

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

Avatar
bocaholly
Boca Raton, Florida
Members

Regulars
December 27, 2018 - 4:06 pm
Member Since: July 8, 2018
Forum Posts: 694
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Small contrabass, anyone?

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
December 28, 2018 - 6:54 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429
11sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

Very cool project Modesto Kid. Thanks for sharing it.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 148
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, JPferrman, Designer 88, LyleA, Stephen, Dorque, Trisha, Elaisa, wonderputz, Gordon Shumway, dougga, Russionleo, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7761
ABitRusty: 3915
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2425
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2149
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31662
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10590
Posts: 134223
Newest Members:
SoCal335, Jan Howard, edwardcheng, Oscar Stern, bryanhanson, bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08, creativestringsinfo
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5309